Side-seam-soldering machine.



No. 665,476 Patented la-n. 8,. l90l.

. v C. W'. SLEEPER.

SIDE sEAm SOLDERING MACHINE.

- A lication filed May 31, i900. i (No Model.) '5 Sheets-Sheet l-.

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TNE NORRIS PETERS co, FNGTO-LXYHQ, WASHWRYON. n. c

No. 665,476. Patented Jan. 8,190l.

C. W. SLEEPER. SIDE SEAM S DLDERING MACHINE.

(Application filed m 31, 1900.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-8heet 2.

I 4536 M 36%; T aka/wen No. 665,476. Patented Ian. 8, I90I.

C. W. SLEEPER. SIDE SEAM SOLDEBING MACHINE.

(Application fllo'd May 31, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

bwen ton THE mama PETERS 00., Pumouhio, wAsumowN. n. c.

Patented Ian. 8, I90l.

0. w. SLEEPER. SIDE SEAM SOLDERING'MACHINE.

' (Application filed m 81, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

I bwntoh UNITED .TATEs FFICE.

ATENT CHARLES W. SLEEPER, OF LANCASTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THESLEEPER MACHINE COMPANY, OF MAINE.

SlDE-SEAM-SOLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,476, dated January8, 1901.

Application filed May 31, 1900. serial No. 18,491. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it Wttty concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. SLEEPER, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Coos andState of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful ImprovementinSide- Seam-Soldering Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanism for automaticallyfluxing and soldering the side seams of can-bodies, and is especiallyintended for use upon can-bodies in which the side seam has beenpartially formed by interlocking the edges of the blank.

It consists, essentially, ofan intermittentlyrotating table or diskbearing upon its upper face, at its circumference, horns for bolding thecan-bodies to be operated upon and means for holding said can-bodiesupon said horns, means forgiving said disk intermittent rotary motion,means for locking said disk and holding the same firmly in the intervalsbetween its movements, means for feeding flux and solder upon the seamof the can, means for melting and applying the solder to the seam, andmeans for ejecting the can after being soldered, the whole being soconstructed and arranged that each can is carried by the intermittentmotion of the carryingdisk to one after another of several stations,where the several operations of feeding 'fiux and solder and melting andapplying the same to the seam by means of soldering-irons are performed,remaining at each station long enough for the operation there to beperformed and then passing on to the next station, until at the last itis ejected from the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of the machine.Fig. 2 is a top view of the machine as it would appear if the portionsabove the can-shaft were removed. Fig. 3 is a front elevation with someof the rear parts omitted to avoid confusion. Fig. 4 is a partialelevation of the machine, taken at a plane parallel with the firstsolderingiron and the ejector. Figs. 5 and 6 are an elevation and topview, respectively, of the second soldering-iron and wiper. Fig. 7 is anend view of the soldering-iron and supporting parts and of thesoldering-horn and wings. Fig. 8 is a detail of the solder-feed ingmechanism. Fig. 9 is a detail of the fluxfeeding mechanism. Fig. 10 is adetail showing cam and mechanism for raising and lowering the upperplate and mechanism for actuating the second soldering-iron and wiper.Fig. 11 is a detail of device used to guide the can-body while beingplaced upon the soldering-horn. Fig. 12 is a detail of cross, crank, andrack device for actuating the index-gear. Fig. 13 is a detail of cam andrack for moving the first soldering-iron and ejector. Figs. 14: and 15are an end and top view, respectively,of the soldering-horn and wings.Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a part of flux-hopper and feed-plate.Fig. 17 is a detail of parts for moving first soldering-iron. Fig. 18 isa detail showing manner of supporting indeX-rack m Fig. 19 is a detailof solderingiron carrier, showing position of wiper.

The several stations through which each can passes during the operationof the machine are designated in Fig. l by the numerals 1 to 8,inclusive.

A is the base of the machine.

A A are stanchions secured to the base.

B is a girder between A and the central axis D.

Journal-boxes are provided for the main shaft 0 by boring through thestanchions A A 0 is a gear upon shaft Gand engaging with a pinion C onthe driving-shaft G which shaft is driven by a pulley or other suitablemeans.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, D is an upright axle secured to thebase A. d is a sleeve which fits loosely upon the axle D. d is a gearrigidly secured to d, and called the index-gear. d is a disk-shapedcarrier also secured to d and revolving with it. Upon the top of disk (1and equidistant from each other are arranged a series of can-carryingdevices, hereinafter described. Just above t-heindexgear (1 is placedasliding plate (1 supported and guided by blocks d d and carrying theindex-rack m and the latch-rack d A horizontal reciprocating motion isimparted to (1 through the lever e, pivoted at e and engaged by thebarrel-cam 6 upon the shaft 0.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, l2, and 18, m is a cam-wheel having upon oneside the camgroove m and upon the other the crank-pin m The crank-pin menters the block m which slides in a groove m in the cross m, giving thesaid cross reciprocating motion as the crank revolves. m is guided by astandard m secured to the base A and is provided with a rectangulartooth m which engages a suitable rectangular slot in the back of therack m and ata right angle with it. The rack m is guided by the clips msecured to the under side of the sliding plate d When the parts are inposition shown in Fig. 2, the cross m being atone extremity of itsmotion, the sliding plate (1 moves quickly to the left, causing theindex-rack m to engage the index-gear d and pull it around until thecross m reaches the opposite extremity of its motion, when the slidingplate 01 again moves to the right, disengaging the rack in and causingthe latch-rack d to engage the index-gear d and prevent it from moving.The motion of the shaft C being continuous, it will be readily seen thatregular intermittent motion is imparted to the index-gear 0?, with theperiod of rest just equal to the period of motion. By this movement thecanbodies upon the disk (1 are carried around with the disk from onestation to another, remaining at each station a sufficient time for theoperation there to be performed and then moving on to the next station.

Above the carrier-disk d and also designed to slide upon the centralaxle D is a vertically-reciprocating carrier n, actuated from the shaftC by the cam j, cam-rodj, lever j and connecting-rod 3' Fig. 10. Themotion of the carrier at is so regulated that it rises and remains upwhile the carrier (1 is in motion and descends and remains down whilethe said carrier is at rest.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 7, and 15, the cancarrying device is describedas follows, viz: a is a metal horn, with a suitable groove in its top toreceive the seam of the formed canbody. a n are wings or clasps pivotedupon pins 11 77. which project from the ears a n upon the sides of thehorn n. The outer ends of the pins n are turned down to a diametersmaller than that of the remaining part, and each is surrounded by acoiled spring at, one end of which is secured to a slot in the end ofthe pin n while the other end engages the wing n drawing it down uponthe can on the horn n and holding the can firmly in place. The edges ofthe wings a where they coinein contact with the seam are faced withaluminium or other non-tinning substance. n represents bars or levers,each resting upon a fulcrum n upon the horn 'n' and with one end underthe ends of the wings a n These levers are designed to raise the edgesof the said wings to permit placing the can-body upon the horn andejecting the body when finished and are operated by screws 83, whichproject through the carrier 1t and strike the inner ends of the bars upressing them down and raising the edges of the wings. As the Wings risethe springs a are cramped, and when they are released by the withdrawalof the bars 91 the action of the springs draws them down to their formerposition. At the point 1, Fig. 1, and immediatoly above the horn n is anarm 7t, (shown also in Fig. 11,) attached to the carriern and carryingtwo knife-edged pawls 7c 7;, held down by springs L The office of thepawls is to enter the seam of the can-body and guide it as it is beingplaced upon the horn n and hold it in place until gripped by the wings an Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 9, and 16, p is a metal hopper attached tothe stanchion A and designed to carry resin or other suitable flux forsoldering the seams. p is a thin plate of metal attached to an arm 19and arranged to pass through a slot 19 in the bottom of the hopper 1).It is raised and lowered for each can-body as the machine is operatedand has its lower edge serrated. \Vhen p is raised, the points of theserrations are above the bottom of the hopper 1), (see Fig. 16,)allowing the flux to enter the serrations, and when p descends the fluxin the said serrations is pushed through the slot 19 and falls upon theseam of thecan-body held upon the horn beneath. The arm p is moved bythe cam m by means of the roller and pin m and cam-rod g Referring toFigs. 1, 3, and 8, g is a spool of ribbon solder upon a spindle g",supported by the frame g. g g are rolls to guide the ribbon of solder tothe feed-rolls g 9 which are geared together by gears g Fig. 1, anddriven by the ratchet g and pawl The bell-crank lever g pivoted at g andoperated by the cam-rod g and cam 112, causes the feed-rolls to revolveas the camrod 9 rises by moving the pawl g through the medium of theconnecting-rod g, and thus feeds down a portion of ribbon-solder. As thecam-rod g descends the segmental gear 9 upon the lower arm of thebell-crank lever g acting upon the rack g upon the knife 9 causes theknife g to move forward and under the knife 9 to cuta strip of solderfrom the ribbon and allow it to fall upon the seam. The extent ofrotation of the feed-roll, and consequently the width of the strip ofsolder cut, is regulated by moving the thumb-nut thus giving more orless motion to the pawl g Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, t, 13, and 17, f,Fig. 13, is a cam-wheel upon the drivingshaft 0, having in its side acam-groove which engages a pin and roller f upon the rack f", therebyimparting to said rack a vertical reciprocating motion. f isarock-shaft. ff are journal-boxes carrying the same. f is a segmentalgear upon the'shaftf and engaged by the vertically-reciprocating rack f.f is another segmental gear at the opposite end of theshaft f andengaging a pinion f f (see Fig. 17) is secured to one end of a shortshaft which passes through the box f and terminates in an eccentric-pinf f actuates the connecting-rod f and through the lever f impartsreciprocating motion to the link f and the soldering-iron, hereinafterdescribed, the said link being connected with said lever f at one endand with the soldering iron car rier at the other by loose joints,permitting the necessary vertical play of the parts in the operation ofthe machiue,and especially during the raising and lowering of thecarrier 11. f is a link attached to the segmental gearf at one end andthe can-ejecting lever f at the other. As the gear f oscillates theejector f is drawn backward and forward, and these motions are soregulated that at the proper time f is brought in contact with thecan-body and pushes it from the horn n.

The soldering device, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 19, consists ofacarrier h, sliding upon a track it, which is fastened to the carrier nand rises with it. Fitting loosely in the carrier n and supported byfour bosses at the bottom corners is a soldering-iron holder 72?, whichis a rectangular box with an opening in each side to receive thegas-flame and allow the passage of the heated vapors. h thesoldering-iron proper, passes through the bottom of the holder 71, andprojects upward into the path of the gas-flame, receiving the heat atifs upper end and transmitting it to the outward or bottom part. Thegas-burner h, fastened to' the front of the carrier h, is rectangular inshape, the side nearest the soldering-iron being perforated by a largenumber of small holes k to allow the passage of the gas which issupplied through a pipe h, connected at one end of h. To allow formoving the soldering-iron along the seam, a flexible tube must be usedto connect the gas-burner with the gas-supply pipe.

The soldering is done by two soldering-irons applied to the seam indifferent ways. The first soldering-iron (which with its appendages ismarked H in Fig. 1) is applied at point 4 in Fig. l and is passedforward and backward upon the seam twice or more in short strokes tomelt the solder and sweat it into the seam. The second soldering-iron(marked H in Fig. 1) is applied at point 5, Fig. 1. This iron is drawnover the entire length of the seam in one direction only and is closelyfollowed by a wiper h, which is a bundle of cane fiber or other suitablematerial bound together in the form of a brush and secured in a clasp hwhich slides loosely on a guiderod h and serves to steady the top of thewiper and also by its weight to press it down upon the seam.

h Figs. 6, 7, and 19, is a bell-crank lever pivoted at h to the carrierh and having a long horizontal arm bent, as shown in Fig. 7, around thetrack h and a short perpendicular arm or detent adapted to bear againstthe wiper h and hold it against the perpendicular plate 77, Fig. 5,which projects from the rear of the carrier h in a plane at a rightangle with the lever h Upon the outer end of the horizontal arm is theroller and stud h riding upon a stationary cam h Figs. 3, 5, and 7. Asthe wiper reaches the seam of the can to be operated upon the outer endof the horizontal arm of the lever h is raised by the cam h therebyreleasing the wiper h and allowing it to rest upon the seam. Just beforethe wiper leaves the seam at the end of the stroke the lever h againpresses upon the wiper and holds it firmly against the plate It, whilethe carrier, with the soldering-iron, rises and returns to position forthe next seam. The wiper h is thus readjusted for each seam and allowedto compensate for wearing away at the bottom. This device is intended'to wipe off and save the surplus solder and fill up irregularities andblowholes in the seam.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10, the cam j actuates the cam-rod jby means of a pin and rollerj ,'secured to the cam-rod and e11- gagingthe face of the said cam. j is a lever pivoted at its center to thegirder B and attached to the cam-rod j, serving to raise and to lowerthe carrier 11 by means of the connecting-rod j. The rack j, arranged toslide in a suitable guideway, is connected by a link 7' to a crank-pinon the back of the camj and is given a vertical reciprocating motion asthe cam revolves. A segmental gear j upon a rock-shaft j engages therackj and is operated by it. The rock-shaft 9' terminates in an arm j",which is connected with the lever j by a link j 'and imparts horizontalreciprocating motion to the second soldering-iron and wiper through thelink 7' said link being connected to the lever 7' at one end and thesoldering-iron carrier at the other by loose joints, permitting thenecessary vertical play of the parts.

In operating the machine the can-body, af ter being properly formed andlocked or otherwise secured, is thrust upon the horn n at point 1, Fig.1, the wings n n being raised to allow the can-body to pass under them.The pawls k guide the can-body and hold it down upon the horn. Thecarrier n then rises, withdrawing the screw 3 from the lever 41",allowing the wings n n to rest upon the canbody upon either side of theseam to be soldered. The carrier-disk d with its series of can-carryingdevices, is then moved one point, bringing the first can-body under theresin-hopper at point 2, where a sufficient amount of flux is droppedupon the seam. The carrier d is moved again, bringing the can-body underthe solder-feed at point 3,.

The third motion of the car IIO rier brings the can-bodyunder the firstsoldering-iron at point at, where the said iron descends upon the seamand melts the solder. The next motion of the carrier brings the canbodyunder the second soldering-iron at 5, where the process of soldering iscontinued and the seam wiped. At points 6 and 7 the seam is allowed tocool, and at point 8 the finished can-body is ejected from the machine.

It will be understood that the process is continuous, a can-body beingplaced upon each horn as it arrives at point 1.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the can-carryingdisk d with the described mechanism for imparting intermittent rotarymotion thereto, consisting of the sleeve d with the index gear 01attached thereto, sliding plate 61 latch-rack d and index-rack m withmeans for giving lateral reciprocating motion to the sliding plate at,and means for giving longitudinal reciprocating motion to the index-rackm substantially as described.

2. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans the can-carryingdisk (1 mounted upon the sleeve cl, index-gear d attached to saidsleeve, sliding plate d carrying the latch-rack d and index-rack m saidracks being adapted to engage alternately with the opposite sides of theindex-gear d oscillating lever e operated by the barrel-cam 6 adapted togive to said sliding plate lateral reciprocating motion and means forgiving longitudinal reciprocating motion to said index-rack msubstantially as described.

3. In a machine forsoldering the side seams of cans the can-carryingdisk d mounted on the sleeve (1, index-gear d attached to said sleeve,sliding plate (1 carrying the latcl1- rack d and index-rack m means forgiving to the sliding plate d reciprocating lateral motion and means forgiving to said rack m longitudinal reciprocating motion consisting ofthe slotted cross m engaging the rack m and operated by the revolubledisk m through the medium of the crank-pin m and sliding block m workingin the slots in said cross, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, thesoldering-horns n,having hinged clasps "n provided with springs a forholding the can-bodies in place upon said solderinghorns, and means foropening said clasps, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, thesoldering-horns n having hinged claspsn provided with springs a forholding the can-bodies in place upon said solderinghorns, in combinationwith the lever 72 operated by screws .9 upon the carrier n and means forraising and lowering said carrier, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the arm 7t mountedupon the carrier 71 and provided with spring-pawls lt'substantially asdescribed.

7. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the solder-feedingmechanism described, consisting of the solder-reel g, guiderolls 9feed-rolls g g, ratchet g pawl g and adjustable connecting-rod g incombination with the lever g provided with a segment-gear sliding knifeg provided with a rack stationary knife 9 and means for imparting anoscillating motion to the lever g substantially as described.

8. Ina machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the lever g cam-rodg and camwheel m, in combination with solder-reel g, feed-rolls g 9knives g g and means for transmitting motion from said lever to saidfeed-rolls and knives, said parts being so combined and arranged thatwhen the cam-rod g rises, the feed-roll g is turned a measured distance,thereby feeding a portion of the solder downward between the knives, andby the return motion of the cam-rod the knife g is carried toward thestationary knife, thereby cutting off the projecting piece of solder,substantially as described.

9. In a machine forsoldering the side seams of cans, the carrier at withthe soldering devices H H attached thereto and means for giving to saidcarrier intermittent vertical reciprocating motion substantially asdescribed.

10. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the carriern withsoldering devices H H attached thereto, means for giving said carrierintermittent vertical reciprocating motion and means for holding thecans to be operated upon and bringing them in succession under saidsoldering devices, substantially as described.

11. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, in combinationwith the carrier h, in the soldering device H the wiper 71 held by thesliding clasp 71.7 so arranged as to press upon the soldered seam duringthe forward movement of the carrier, with means for holding said wiperduring the upward and backward movement of said carrier, substantiallyas described.

12. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, in combinationwith the sliding carrier h, in the soldering device H and means forgiving reciprocating motion thereto, the wiper It held by the slidingclasp W, the lever 77, provided with the roller and stud h and the cam71., substantially as described.

13. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the wiper h incombination with the soldering-iron it in the soldering device I-I, andmeans for operating the same, substantially as described.

14. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, in combinationwith the soldering device H, means foroperating said device, consistingof the rock-shaftf operated by the cam-wheel f on the driving-shaft O,rack f and segmental gear f segmental gear f attached to saidrock-shaft, pinion f, eccentric-pin f connecting-rod f leverf and linkf, substantially as described.

15. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, theejector-leverf with means for giving to said lever an oscillatingmotion, consisting of the rock-shaft f operated by the cam-wheel f onthe driving-shaft C, rackf IIC and segmental gear f segmental gear fattached to said rock-shaft and link f connecting said gear with theejector-lever, substantially as described.

16. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, in combinationwith the soldering device H means for moving said device in onedirection over the surface of the seam to be operated upon With thesolderingiron and wiper in contact with said seam, and means forreturning said device to its original position without such contact,consisting of the leverj and link 7' with means substantially asdescribed for giving to said leverj an oscillating motion,in combinationwith the carrier 71 carrying said soldering device, and means for givingsaid carrier a vertical reciprocating movement, substantially asdescribed.

17. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the solderingdevice H with means for giving to the same horizontal reciprocatingmotion, consisting of the cam-wheel j on the driving-shaft O, slidingrack j, connecting-linkj, segmental gear 7' rock-shaft j arm j", linkoscillating lever j and connecting-1inkj substantially as described.

18. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the carrier n andmeans for giving to said carrier intermittent vertical reciprocatingmotion, consisting of the camwheel 7' on the driving-shaft O, cam-rod7", os-

cillating lever j and connecting-rod 7' substantially as described.

19. The described mechanism for automatically soldering the side seamsof cans, consisting of the disk d with can-carrying horns attachedthereto and means for giving said disk intermittent horizontal rotarymotion, the carrier n having soldering devices H H attached thereto andmeans for giving said carrier intermittent vertical reciprocatingmotion, means for giving said soldering devices horizontal reciprocatingmotion, means for holding the cans upon said horns and for releasing thesame when the operation of soldering is completed, means for feedingflux and solder upon the can-seams and means for ejecting the solderedcans from the carryinghorns, the mechanism for moving said disk 61 andcarrier 'n, being so arranged and adj usted that the carrier begins torise just before each movement of the disk 01 and descends and remainsstationary as the motion of the disk (1 ceases, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. SLEEPER;

Witnesses:

ONEIL TWITCHELL, F. H. TWITOHELL.

